The portrait was sketched by Stanley Porteous, one of the 14 people who died when the Catalina A24-24 crashed off the coast of Bowen 70 years ago during World War II.

Stanley Porteous's son Shane, who is best known for his Logie-winning role in the TV series "Country's Practice", recently recovered the drawing when he was going through his father's belongings.

Tourism Bowen's Paul McLaughlin says they'd like to identify the man in the sketch before the first-ever Bowen Catalina Memorial event is held on August 17.

"His (Shane Porteous) father had drawn a number of sketches of Catalinas and different surrounds of Bowen," says Mr McLaughlin.

"He also had a brilliant sketch of a gentleman called Frank who was sitting in a chair reading a book with a tall stubby of beer behind him."

But no-one knows who Frank is.

"We've got no information bar a sketch done of him 70 years ago and just with the name Frank written underneath it," says Mr McLaughlin.

"It was obviously a friend or a mate or one of his colleagues that was actually with him during that time... we're assuming it was someone within the armed forces as well."

It's hoped the search for Frank will also attract the attention of some of the other relatives of those who died in the crash.

"I believe that there would be many relatives of those involved in the A24-24 Catalina crash who would like to attend the memorial and we are hoping that the 'Who's Frank' campaign will help us to track them down - and find the identity of the mystery Frank."